Dr. Ken – “Allison Finds a Lump” Recap. This is Neverland.

Season 2, Episode 18

Air Date: Friday, February 24, 2017, 8:30/7:30c on ABC

Rating: ★★★★★

“I found a lump.” – Allison

During a self-exam in the shower, Allison (Suzy Nakamura) is startled to discover a lump in her breast. As she anxiously waits for the doctor’s diagnosis, Ken (Ken Jeong) and their co-workers from Welltopia rally by her side for support in a touching episode drawn from Jeong’s personal experiences.

I don’t know about you, but I always feel uneasy anytime a sitcom tackles a serious topic like cancer. I expect medical dramas like Pure Genius or Grey’s Anatomy to address serious illnesses so I’m prepared when I watch them. And while Dr. Ken is a show about a doctor, there’s a certain amount of levity viewers have come to expect. In dealing with life or death situations, the writers must walk a fine line in addressing a sobering subject without making the episode feel like a drama. Thankfully, “Allison Finds a Lump” is an episode that will make you laugh, cry, and perhaps, give a loved one a hug.

Nakamura gives an outstanding performance as her character processes the discovery of the lump and what it could mean. One of the things that makes “Allison Finds a Lump” work so well is the story doesn’t dwell on the cancer but rather, the downtime Allison has as she waits for the diagnosis. There are several little moments throughout the episode that break up the tension without being disrespectful. Everyday occurrences, like being put on hold during a phone call, seem unusually funny as they help ease some of the stress.

Some of the more powerful scenes in “Allison Finds a Lump” are the silent ones. On the surface, Ken going into the bathroom after learning the news is amusing. However, there’s so much more to his emotions, you don’t know whether you should laugh or cry. Despite being a doctor, you feel the helplessness Ken experiences. Watching scenes like these, it’s hard to tell if Jeong is acting or drawing from his past.

Meanwhile, Dave (Albert Tsai) struggles with plot holes and inaccuracies of his character Peter in the school play, Peter Pan. After all, a boy who won’t grow up sounds more like a medical condition to Dave rather than a fairy tale. And don’t get him started on the whole flying-using-pixie-dust concept. Tsai is entertaining as always and as much as I enjoy this storyline, it’s hard to compete when the big C is the elephant in the room.

Waiting for the diagnosis, Allison seeks a distraction by attending Dave’s performance at school. The scene reminds me of the 2004 film Finding Neverland when J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) recreates Neverland in the house of a dying Sylvia Liewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet) as a way for her to escape everything she’s going through, even for just a moment. While the Peter Pan at Dave’s school lacks the production value of the film, it serves as a necessary diversion, allowing the Parks, as well as the TV viewing audience, to share a much needed laugh.

Directed by Phill Lewis and written by Jim Brandon, Brian Singleton and Jeong, “Allison Finds a Lump” is a powerful and heartwarming episode. Despite the serious subject matter, the episode is less gloom and doom and more about surrounding oneself with family and loved ones during times of need.

Those who have followed Jeong for any amount of time knows “Allison Finds a Lump” isn’t your typical Dr. Ken story; this time it’s personal. About a year after their twin daughters Alexa and Zooey were born, Jeong’s wife Tran discovered a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. After a series of chemo, surgery, and radiation, Tran has thankfully been cancer free for eight years.

As much as “Allison Finds a Lump” is a deeply personal story for Jeong, it’s one I hesitate to say Dr. Ken wasn’t mature enough to tell in its freshman season. The writers made the right decision waiting until now because the audience has grown to care about these characters. That said, even under the guise of a sitcom, I can’t imagine the range of emotions Jeong went through during the filming of this episode.

To learn more about cancer, visit Stand Up To Cancer. For more information on recommended screenings, click here. You can also check out a segment Good Morning America did on Ken and Tran during the “GMA Goes Pink” campaign here. Finally, take a look at a segment from the PBS Ken Burns produced documentary that features Ken here.

Tweet me @Staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Allison Finds a Lump.”

Tune in to Dr. Ken Fridays at 8:30/7:30c, only on ABC.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.